Erie trustees seek 'advisory opinion' on Mayor Joe Wilson's ethics

ERIE -- The town's Board of Trustees decided Friday night to "seek an advisory opinion" on whether Mayor Joe Wilson's interest in a property on North 111th Street violates the code of ethics.

About 25 Erie residents attended the special meeting, which only lasted roughly five minutes. The meeting was called to appoint an independent party to look into the allegation of an ethics violation.

Trustee Janice Moore made a motion that the board "seek an advisory opinion for the purpose of determining if the mayor's action related to the McBride property violates the town's code of ethics." The motion received unanimous board approval.

Wilson's role as agent in the nearly 5-acre parcel took shape shortly after Erie's urban renewal authority decided late last year not to buy the property near the southeast corner of Arapahoe Road and U.S. 287. That corner has been listed on the town's website as a "retail development opportunity."

Following an altercation between Wilson and the tenant on the property, 65-year-old Karol Hopper, she obtained a temporary protection order against Wilson that forbids him from coming within 100 yards of her home and requires that Wilson appear in court March 18 to argue why the order shouldn't be made permanent.

Wilson lists himself as an agent, principal and co-listing broker for the property's owner, Cheyenne, Wyo.-based MCB Trust. He insists his dealings with Hopper are a private business matter and have nothing to do with his office.

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Hopper said she thinks the mayor is trying to pressure her out of her home so that he can chase the larger goal of bringing commercial development to the corner.

Trustee Mark Gruber indicated that Friday's meeting was not the time for board discussion on the issue.

"The town's ethics code stipulates how were are supposed to proceed in these situations," Gruber said.

Erie resident Naomi Dunlap was the only member of the public to speak, and she used her time at the microphone to request that Wilson, who convened the meeting as mayor, recuse himself from the discussion. Mayor Pro Tem Ronda Grassi conducted the meeting after Wilson dismissed himself.

The board's vote means the review of the potential ethics violation moves to Erie Municipal Judge Willard Hardesty. No time table was established Friday for the judge's evaluation.

"The municipal judge will be asked to advise the board with an opinion on the case, but the town clerk, Nancy Parker, told us that while he could take it himself he'll likely hand it off to another judge outside of Erie," Moore said. "This is the right way for the process to go."

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